MBCEL to set up 30MW solar farm plant in Banaskantha

SummaryThree months after Azure Power set up what it claims is India’s largest 5MW solar power plant in Sabarkantha in collaboration with Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Three months after Azure Power set up what it claims is India’s largest 5MW solar power plant in Sabarkantha in collaboration with Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), US-based investment company Mosar Baer Clean Energy Limited (MBCEL) on Wednesday said it will commission Asia’s largest 30MW solar farm in collaboration with Blackstone Group, a US-based investment company.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the solar farm set up by MBCEL in Gunthawada village in Banaskantha district.

MBCEL has set up the plant at the cost of Rs 465 crore in four months. The power will be distributed through two separate 66 KV lines to sub-stations in Anganwada and Dunawada. Around 50,000 houses will benefit from the electricity.

“Looking at the limited renewable resources and growing requirements, we have set up a solar farm in Banaskantha. We chose Gujarat because it has abundant sunlight. We will also be generating employment for around 350 people from nearby villages,” said Ratul Puri, chairman of Moser Baer Projects.

The project was finalized under phase 1 of Gujarat Solar Power Policy 2009. Similarly, under the same policy a solar plant was established in Sabarkantha district. The Gujarat government has signed generation of 545 MW electricity through solar power in phase I and phase II.

The MNC will supply electricity to GETCO at Rs 12 per unit. The company will incur expenses of Rs 10 per unit.